Conveying mechanism for husking rolls



Nov. 18, 1947.

N. F.ANDREW'5 CONVEYING MECHANISM FOR HUSKING ROLLS Filed May 26, 1944 FIG. I

' 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 4k 1 \a w/es #40 t a u o c he 45 V 44 78 77 I 77- 82 INVENTO 84 NORMAN E ANDR ws a4 )9 v WITNESS 55 O 676% ATTORNEYS Nov. 18, 1947. F. ANDREWS CONVEYING MECHANISM FOR HUSKING ROLLS Filed ma 26, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 &

mfl ND Wm ms m M R N WITNESS Patented Nov. 18, 1947 CONVEYING MECHANISM FOR HUSKING ROLLS Norman F. Andrews, Moline, Ill., assignor to Deere & Company, Moline, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application May 26, 1944, Serial No. 537,460

8 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to husking mechanism and more particularlyto conveying mechanism for moving ears along the husking rolls.

The principal object of my invention relates to the provision of a novel and improved ear moving mechanism that i simple and inexpensive to manufacture but is efficient in operation, and is strong and durable.

I have found that eflicient and satisfactory husking can be. obtained by means of a hard wood smooth cylindrical husking roll in combination with a rubber husking roll having helically extending grooves and ridges which tend to move the ears of corn toward the discharge end of the r rolls, the two rolls being set at an angle of approximately thirty degrees, inclined upwardly toward the discharge end. In corn pickers embodying this arrangement of husking mechanism,

with a conveyor for depositing the snapped ears of corn at the receiving or lower ends of the husking rolls, there is some tendency under certain harvesting conditions for the earsto pile up at the lower ends of the rolls, making it necessary to provide some positive means for starting the ears moving along the rolls. In some conditions, it is suflicient to provide conveyor chains along the sides of the husking rolls, and having earengaging paddles extending over the rolls. other conditions, however, I have found that even with this arrangement, the ears do not start moving along the rolls promptly enough to avoid accumulating at the receiving end of the rolls, for the conveyor chains and paddles sometimes merely move forwardly under the pile of cars with little more effect than to agitate the ears. Therefore, it is an object of thi invention to provide ear moving means which are effective to start the ears moving along the rolls immediately, before they have a chance to accumulate. While I have tried several types of conveyors that are more positive in action than the type mentioned above, I have found that best results are not obtained from conveyor mechanism that is extremely positive in its action, for each ear of corn must interrupt its progression along the rolls during those moments in which the husking rolls are removing the husk from the ear. At such time, the ear must be free to rotate about its axis, without any progressive movement toward the discharge endv of the husking rolls. Hence, an extremely positive ear conveyor which forces the ears along against the restraining action of the rolls upon the husks, will either cause the ears to be damaged by shelling or breaking, or will result in damage to the husking mechanism itself. Therefore, a further object of my invention has to do with the provision of conveying means that are suificiently positive in action to start the ears moving along thehusking rolls but permit some hesitation of the ears during the time they are being husked.

In the accomplishment of these objects, I have found that a combination of an'auger conveyor extendin along one side of the pair of husking rolls and an endless chain conveyor disposed along the opposite side of the husking rolls with ear engaging paddles extending over the adjacent roll, provides the proper amount of positive action in starting the ears along the husking rolls, without the difficulty mentioned above which accompanies an arrangement of conveying mechanism that is too positive in its opera tion.

Still another factor which determines the efiiciency of a pair of husking rolls, is the time required to turn the ears parallel to the rolls so that the husks can be engaged by the husking rolls and stripped from the ears. Obviously, very little husking is accomplished when the ears travel I along the husking rolls transversely thereto. A

further object of my invention, therefore, has to do with the provision of means for quickly orienting the ears of corn parallel to the rolls so that they have the advantage of the frictional action of the rolls over the entire length of the latter.

In the accomplishment of this object I have found that by driving the auger and the conveyor chain at unequal rates of progression along the husking rolls, any ears that fall transversely of the rolls are quickly swung around into a parallel position.

All of the above objects and advantages apply to husking boxes comprising a single pair of husking rolls, These same advantages also apply to husking mechanisms including two pairs of husking rolls disposed side by side, but in this case there are even further advantages to be derived, for by placing the auger between the two pairs of rolls, the divider board which 'is conventional in husking boxes of the four-row type, is eliminated, for the auger thus not only acts as a conveyor but also as a divider, and is even more efiicient in operation than a stationary divider,

direction of rotation of the auger can be made such that it urges the transverse ears toward the pair of roll which tend to receive the fewer number of ears, as is the case where the ear conveyor is perpendicular to the receiving ends of the husking rolls, so that the momentum of the ears tends to carry them to the pair of rolls farthest from the conveyor discharge.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the following description, in which reference is had to the drawings appended hereto, in which 7 v Figure 1 is a plan view of a corn harvester including a husking device embodying the principles of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional elevational view taken along a line 2-2 in Figure 1, transversely of the husking rolls.

Figure 3 is a sectional elevational view taken along a line 3-3 in Figural, longitudinally Of the husking rolls.

Referring now to the drawings, the corn harvester is indicated in its entirety by reference numeral 5 and is illustrative of the type of corn picker disclosed in Patent No. 2,337,592, granted December 28, 1943, to 'Coultas and Dort. It is to be understood, however, that the husking mechanism which is the subject 'of the present invention, is applicable to other types of corn harvesters, or can even be used as a stationary huskin box, as is well-known to those skilled in the art. The corn harvester 5, described briefly, comprises a transverse beam 6, the outer end Of which is supported on a ground-engaging wheel I and the inner end of which is carried in a universal joint, preferably a ball and socket joint 8, mounted on a rearwardly extending arm '9 fixed to a draft frame lil'of a tractor 'I I.

The tractor ll comprises a longitudinally extending body l2 having laterally extending rear axle housings [3, within which are journaled axles 14 carried on rear traction wheels l5. The front end of the tractor is broken away. The arm 9 is also supported by means of a bracing member l6 connected to the arm 9 and inclined upwardly and forwardly therefrom, the forward end of the brace l6 being secured to a bracket l1 mounted on the rear implement supporting bosses which are conventionally provided on tractor axle housings. A draft link I8 is connected to a bracket I9 on the opposite axle housing I3, and the link l8 extends downwardly and rearwardly, and is swingably connected to a lug 2U welded to the intermediate portion of the main beam 6. Corn picking mechanism 25 is mounted on the main beam 6 near the outer end thereof, and comprises a pair of forwardly extending gatherers 26 rigidly mounted on the beam 6 and extending forwardly alongside the traction wheel I5. A pair of snapping rolls 2! are disposed between the gatherers 26 and are rotated by suitable power means, to which power is transmitted from the power take-off shaft 28 of the tractor,

through a pair of universal joints 29 interconnected by a telescoping shaft 30, and connected to a transverse power shaft 3| journaled on the main beam 6 and extending outwardly along the latter. The power shaft 3| is driven by a pair of beveled gears (not shown) disposed within a gear box 32 mounted on the beam 6 behind the tractor.

As the implement moves forwardly in the field, the ears which are snapped from the stalks by the snapping rolls 2'! are deposited in a conveyor trough 35 extending rearwardly from the picking unit 25 over the transverse beam 6 to a point of discharge over the husking unit 36. The ears are moved rearwardly within the conveyor trough 35 by means of an endless chain conveyor 31 having ear-engaging paddles 38 fixed thereto.

The husking unit 36 comprises a sheet metal box or trough having substantially vertical front and back walls 40, 4! and an end wall 42 extended upwardly and outwardly and serving as a chute to receive the ears of corn from the conveyor 35. The box 36 is also provided with a bottom closure 43 in the form of a trough. Within the box 35 are disposedtwo pairs of cooperative husking rolls 44, 45, each pair including a rubber roll 46 and a smooth cylindrical hardwood roll 41. Both the rubber and the wood are mounted on steel supporting shafts 48 of square cross section. The rubber rolls 46 are formed with a helical ridge or land 49 extending from one end of the roll to the other and these ridges are serrated or notched transversely of the ridges, in other words, longitudinally of the rolls, to improve the traction. Each pair of rolls is positioned with the ridges of the rubber roll disposed in contact with the surface of the wood roll and the two pairs 01 rolls are placed side by side with the two rubber rolls 46 adjacent each other and separated slightly to prevent contact therebetween. The outer, or receiving ends of the rolls are journaled in bearings 50 mounted in the end wall 42 of the husking box, while the inner or discharge end of the rolls are mounted in journal bearings 5|, which are mounted in a wall of a gear case 52.

The rolls are disposed at an angle of approximately thirty degrees and are inclined upwardly from the receiving end of the rolls adjacent the conveyor 35 to the discharge end of the rolls, so that the ears must travel upwardly on the incline during the husking operation. The direction of progression of the'helical ridges on the rubber rolls is such that during rotation of the rolls the ridges gently propel the ears upwardly on the incline. The husks and silks are grasped between the rolls of each pair and are stripped from the ears and dropped beneath the husking rolls into the trough 43. An angular stripping member '53 is-disposed longitudinally between the two rubber rolls, the edges of which act as strippers to prevent husks and silks from being carried around the rubber rolls 46.

The husks and silks are moved upwardly along the inclined trough 43 by means of an auger 55, which is rotated during operation to convey the husks and silks through the trough and discharge them intoa chute 56, which inclines downwardly from the discharge end of the trough 43, allowing the husks and silks to drop upon the ground behind the tractor. A hood '51 covers the end portion of the auger '55 to prevent any ears from falling into the trough as they are discharged over an apron '58 into the receiving hopper 59 of a wagon elevator 60.

Coming now to that part of the mechanism with which the present invention is more directly concerned, an auger 65 is positioned on the center line of the husking box between the two inner husking rolls '46. The auger 65 comprises 'a shaft 66 and a helical vane 61 wound thereon. The outer diameter of the vane 6'! is "approximately equal to the diameter 'of each of the rolls '46, 41 and is positioned closely adjacent to the upper surfaces of the rubber rolls 4% so that the bottom of the auger is below and between the tops of the two adjacent rolls, although the auger is positioned so that the edge of the vane 67 does not touch the rolls 46. The vane 67 is wound about the shaft 55 in such a direction that the top of the auger vane moves forwardly, that is, in the opposite direction to the movement of the conveyor chain 31 and also, of course, tends to propel ears upwardly along the inclined rolls. With this arrangement, the ears that drop from the conveyor 3'! upon the auger 65 are urged forwardly upon the front pair of rolls 44. This action tends to more equally distribute the ears upon the two pairs of husking rolls 44, 45, for the momentum of the ears as they are thrown rearwardly by the conveyor 31 has a tendency to pile the ears toward the rear of the husking box and thus overloading the rear pair of husking rolls 45. The lower end of the auger shaft 65 is journaled in a bearing 59 mounted on the end wall 42, and the upper end of the auger shaft is journaled in a bearing ill, which is mounted within the gear box 52. The auger vane 61 terminates somewhat short of the gear box 52 to provide room for a short wooden cylindrical member H on the shaft 55. The cylindrical member H is beveled at 12 adjacent the end of the vane 67. The purpose of this cylindrical wooden member H is to insure that any ears that are engaged by the auger at the upper end of the husking rolls are not pinched between the end of the auger vane and the gear box 52.

A pair of endless chain type conveyors l5, 16 are disposed at opposite sides of the husking box, respectively, each of which comprises a flexible endless chain H extending along the outer sides of the wood rolls 4! and substantially parallel thereto, and a plurality of ear-engaging paddles l8 fixed to the chain 17 at spaced intervals and extending laterally over the adjacent wood roll 47. Preferably, the paddles l8 terminate short of the center line of the pair of adjacent husking rolls, although in some conditions it might be desirable to provide longer paddles. The two chains Tl are trained over a pair of drive sprockets 19 near the discharge end of the husking rolls, the sprockets '59 being fixed to a drive shaft 80 that passes through the gear box 52. The chains Ti pass downwardly from the drive sprockets 19 and are trained under a pair of idler sprockets Bl which are mounted on suitable brackets (not shown) fastened to the sides of the husking box 36. The chains then pass downwardly parallel to the auger trough 43 and between the latter and the planes of the sides 65, M of the box, and are trained around a pair of idler sprockets 82 mounted on a shaft 83 that is journaled in a pair of sprockets 84 rigidly attached to the husking box near the receiving end thereof. The chains then pass upwardly over a pair of sprockets 85, from which they extend along the sides of the rolls 4'! to the drive sprockets 19.

Power is supplied to the husking unit 36 through a drive chain 96, which is trained over a drive sprocket 9! on the drive shaft 3|. ihe chain 9! passes over a drive sprocket 92 on the drive shaft 93 of the conveyor chain 31, the sprocket 92 being releasably connected to the shaft 93 through a conventional overload release clutch S4. The chain 9!] is also trained over a sprocket 95, which drives the husking rolls through an overload clutch 56, and a uni versal joint 91, coupled to the end of the shaft Power is transmitted to the two augers 55, 65

by means of a second power chain I05 which is trained over a sprocket Ill! on the husking roll shaft 48 adjacent the universal joint 91. As best indicated in Figure 2, the chain I00 passes around a sprocket Hi2 fixed to the auger shaft 66 and then is trained upwardly over a small idler sprocket I03 which is supported on a stub shaft I04 on a portion of the housing of the husking mechanism. The chain Hill is also trained over a second idler I05 and engages a sprocket I06 on the shaft of the husk conveyor auger 55.

The opposite end of the husking roll shaft that is connected to the universal joint 91 carries a bevel pinion I08 which meshes with a bevel gear 99 fixed to the drive shaft 80, through which power is transmitted to drive the chain conveyor sprockets 19. The wagon elevator is driven through a sprocket H0 by means of a chain III which is trained over a sprocket H2 mounted on the drive shaft 3 I.

During operation, the implement advances in the field, snapping the ears of corn from the stalks by means of the snapping rolls 2?, conveying the ears rearwardly by the conveyor chain 31, depositing the ears at the receiving end of the husking rolls i4, 45. some of the ears drop on one pair of rolls 4 4 and the rest drop on the rolls 45, but since the auger 55 rotates in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 2, most of the rolls which drop upon the auger are thrown forwardly to the pair of rolls 45. An important feature of this invention resides in proportioning the pitch of the auger 65 and the speed of rotation of the auger shaft 56 so that the rate of progression at which the auger 55 moves an ear of corn is appreciably different than the rate of speed at which the paddles E3 of the chain conveyors 15, advance toward the discharge end of the rolls. Preferably, the auger progresses at a greater rate of speed than the chain conveyors, although this relation can be reversed if desired. Theimportant consideration, however, is that by this difference of speed, any ears that fall transversely across one or the other pairs of husking rolls, are quickly turned to position parallel to the husking rolls and thus drop into the recess between the two rolls of one of the pairs. The auger 65 also serves the purpose of preventing the ears from dropping between the two rubber rolls 45 as there would be no husking action in that location. Furthermore, in case a number of ears pile up at the receiving end of the husking rolls, the auger 65 is sufliciently aggressive in its action to move the ears out of the pile into husking position. Also, the chain conveyors i5 are sufficiently pliable so that they do not act so positively upon the ears that the latter are prevented from hesitating during the second or two that the husks are being stripped. However, the chain conveyors serve to keep the ears moving up the inclined rolls and the ears are discharged over the apron 58 on opposite sides of the divider hood 51, into the elevator hopper 59.

The husks from both pairs of rolls drop into the trough 43 where they are moved by the husk .auger 55 and are discharged through the chute 56 to the ground.

I do not intend my invention to be limited to the exact details shown and described" herein except as set forthin the claims which follow.

.Iclaim:

'1. In husking mechanism, the combination .of two pairs of husking rolls disposed in side by :side arrangement, a conveyor along the outer side .of each pair of rolls and movable toward'the discharge end of the rolls for urging the ears thereto, an auger positioned between the two pairs of rolls and substantially parallel thereto, close to the adjacent rolls to exclude ears from between the latter, and means for rotating saidauger to produce a movement of the auger vane to urge the ears toward the discharge and of said rolls but at a speed of progression that is different from the speed of said conveyors, whereby any ears that fall transversely upon the rolls and auger are straightened parallel thereto.

2. In husking mechanism, the combination of two pairs ofhusking rolls, each pair of rolls being disposed parallel in juxtaposition for grasping husks and silks and removing them from the ears, said two pairs of rolls being disposed substantiallyparallel to each other, a conveyor along the outer side of each pair of rolls and movable toward the discharge end of the rolls for urging the ears thereto, an auger disposed between said pairs of rolls and comprising a shaft and a'helical vane mounted thereon, said auger being mounted for rotation about an axis positioned above the axes of the adjacent rolls so that the edge of said vane beneath said auger extends below the tops of said rolls and is in close proximity to the latter to prevent ears from lodging between said pairs of rolls, and means for rotating said auger to produce a movement of the auger vane to urge the ears toward the discharge end of said rolls but at a speed of progression that is different from the speed of said conveyors, wherebyany ears that fall transversely upon the rolls are straightened parallel thereto.

3. In husking mechanism, the combination of two pairs of husking rolls, each pair of rolls being disposed parallel in juxtaposition forrgrasping husks and sills and removing them from the ears, said two pairs of rolls being disposed substantially parallel to each other, a pair ofiendless chain type conveyors having ear engageable paddles movable over said pairs/of rolls,:respectively, to urge the ears toward the discharge end of the rolls, an anger disposed between said pairs of rolls and rotatable about an axis disposed higher than the axes of the adjacent rollsand in close proximity to the latter to prevent ears i-from lod ing therebetween, and means for rotating said auger to produce a progression of the .augerflvane toward the discharge end of said rolls at a speed higher than the speed of said chains, whereby any ears that fall transversely across said auger and one of said conveyors are straightened par-- allel to the rolls.

4. In husking mechanism, the combination of a pair of cooperative huskin rolls, an ear engaging auger disposed along one side of said pair of rolls and an endless conveyor chain disposed along the opposite side of said of rolls and having ear engaging members fixed to said chain and extending over the adjacent husking roll, said auger being positioned close to the adjacent roll to prevent ears from passing between the latter and said auger.

5. In huslnng mechanism, the combination with a pair of cooperative husking rolls of a pair of ear moving devices extending along opposite sides of said pair of rolls, respectively, one of sal dldevicesicomprising an augerand the other device comprising an endless conveyor chain havingcear engaging members fixed thereto and extending over the adjacent 'roll, said auger being positioned close to the adjacent roll to prevent ears from passing between the latter and :said auger, and means for driving said ear moving devices at relatively different speeds of progression, whereby'ears that fall transversely across the rollsare straightened parallel thereto.

6. In husking mechanism,the combination with a pair of cooperative husking rolls rotatably disposed on parallel axes that incline upwardly from the receiving end of the rolls to the discharge end of the rolls, of a pair ofear moving devices extending along opposite sides of said pair of rolls, respectively, one of said devices comprising an auger positioned .close to the adjacent roll to prevent ears from passing between the latter and said auger, and the other device comprising an endless conveyor chain having ear engaging members fixed thereto and extending over the adjacent roll, and means for driving said ear moving devices at relatively different speeds of progression, whereby ears that fall transversely across the rolls are straightened parallel thereto.

'7. In huskingmechanismdhe combination with a pair of cooperative husking rolls rotatably disposed on parallel axes that incline upwardly :from the receiving end of the rolls to the discharge end of the rolls, of a pair of ear moving devices extending along opposite sides of said pair of rolls, respectively, one of said devices comprising an auger having a diameter substantially egual to thatof one of said rolls and rotatably mounted above and offset outwardly from the center of the adjacent roll, said auger being positioned close to the adjacent 'roll to prevent ears from passing between the latter and said auger, and the other device comprising anendless conveyor member having-ear engaging parts extending inwardly over the adjacent husking roll.

8. In huskingmechanism, the combination with a pair of cooperative husking rolls rotatably disposed'on parallel axes that incline upwardly from the receiving end of the rolls to the discharge end of the rolls, ofa pair of ear moving devices extending along opposite sides of said pair of ,rolls, respectively, one of said devices comprising an anger having a diameter substantially equal .to that ,of one of said rolls and rotatably mounted above and offset outwardly from the center-ofthe adjacent roll, said auger being positioned close to the adjacent roll to prevent ears'f-rom passing between the latter and said auger, the other device comprising an endless-conveyor member havling-ear engaging-parts extending inwardly over .the adjacent husking roll, and means for driving saidrear moving devices at relatively different speeds of progression, whereby ears that fall -transversely across the rolls are straightened-par- .allel thereto.

NORMAN F. ANDREWS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS N umber 

